Kanifing in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Kanifing sees average daytime highs around 26°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 3 mm of rain over about 1 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 28°C in early December to 26°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels comfortable.
Winter is Kanifing's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. Kanifing has little temperature swing across the year, so its calendar seasons blur — the season framing matters less here than for a place with four distinct seasons. For the whole year in context, see Kanifing's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 26°C
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 21°C
- Rainfall
- 3 mm
- 1 wet days
- Avg wind
- 17 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.4
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Kanifing in Winter
Over the season highs ease from about 28°C in early December to 26°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Kanifing reaches about 26°C and drops to 21°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Kanifing
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
winter sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Kanifing weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26° / 21° | 2 | 0.2 | 11.3 | 8.6 |
| Feb | 26° / 21° | 1 | 0.1 | 11.6 | 8.7 |
| Mar | 26° / 21° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.9 | 9.0 |
| Apr | 25° / 21° | 0 | 0 | 12.3 | 9.1 |
| May | 26° / 23° | 1 | 0.2 | 12.6 | 8.8 |
| Jun | 27° / 25° | 9 | 1.6 | 12.8 | 7.9 |
| Jul | 28° / 26° | 118 | 13.5 | 12.7 | 5.3 |
| Aug | 28° / 26° | 246 | 22.2 | 12.4 | 4.1 |
| Sep | 29° / 26° | 174 | 18.6 | 12.1 | 4.3 |
| Oct | 30° / 27° | 49 | 7.4 | 11.7 | 5.7 |
| Nov | 29° / 26° | 1 | 0.4 | 11.4 | 6.7 |
| Dec | 27° / 22° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.2 | 8.0 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Kanifing gets around 3 mm of rain over 1 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 17 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 18 min in early December to 11 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.6 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Kanifing
In winter, Kanifing overlaps its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Kanifing sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Kanifing's monsoon runs July–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Kanifing sees seasonal dust haze (February–August), heaviest in June.
Is winter a good time to visit Kanifing?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Kanifing for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Kanifing in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Kanifing sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
Sea temperature near Kanifing in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 22°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 21 km away) is warmest in October at about 29°C and coldest in March near 20°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 24 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Warm | Refreshing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 21 | Refreshing |
| Mar | 20 | Refreshing |
| Apr | 21 | Refreshing |
| May | 23 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 26 | Warm |
| Jul | 28 | Tropical |
| Aug | 28 | Tropical |
| Sep | 29 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 28 | Warm |
| Dec | 24 | Refreshing |
UV index in Kanifing in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Kanifing peaks around March 19 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 7 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 8 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Very high |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 12 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 8 | Very high |
| Dec | 7 | Very high |
Air quality in Kanifing in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Kanifing is worst in February — around 98 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.2× the cleanest month (August, 24 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 89 | 98 | 80 | 61 | 52 | 60 | 36 | 24 | 29 | 50 | 64 | 84 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Unhealthy | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 89 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 98 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 80 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 61 | Unhealthy |
| May | 52 | Poor |
| Jun | 60 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 36 | Poor |
| Aug | 24 | Moderate |
| Sep | 29 | Moderate |
| Oct | 50 | Poor |
| Nov | 64 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 84 | Unhealthy |
Where is Kanifing?
Kanifing sits at 13.4°N, 16.7°W, 12 m above sea level, in Gambia. The nearest listed city is Serekunda, 1.0 km away.
Topography around Kanifing
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Kanifing.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Kanifing has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 26 m around an average of 10 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 37 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 53 m.
The land around Kanifing is covered by artificial surfaces (66%) within 3 km, water (60%) within 16 km, and water (41%) within 80 km.
Gambia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type G
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 25% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $919
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.3 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 48%
- of population, 2024
- Road deaths
- 29.6
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Low
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Kanifing (13.4464°, -16.6744°, elevation 12 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.